A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Abu Dhabi vs. Cochin for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Cochin?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Abu Dhabi and Cochin can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Cochin?

Abu Dhabi

It doesn't get more "lifestyles of the rich and famous" than a vacation to Abu Dhabi. The federal capital and center of government for the United Arab Emirates is arguably the most modern city in the world.

Abu Dhabi has a population of 1.5 million and provides a home to several oil companies and embassies, but this place is definitely a playground for the world's fanciest tourists. This city has several large projects underway including Yas Island's Formula 1 track and Ferrari theme park.

Note: homosexuality is still outlawed in the UAE with harsh punishments including deportation, fines, jail time or even a death sentence.

Cochin

Cochin is a large city in Kerala, India. It's a cosmopolitan commercial port city with a population of over two million and is a major tourist destination. The city has a diverse population that has migrated from elsewhere in Kerala, as well as the rest of India. The city continues to become more cosmopolitan with fashion shifting to western styles. There are also many large shopping malls as well as an enthusiasm for sports such as football (soccer) or cricket.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Arab Emirates, The Best Luxury Tours to India, and The Best Budget Tours to India.


Which place is cheaper, Cochin or Abu Dhabi?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Cochin is $36. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Abu Dhabi and Cochin in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Abu Dhabi $98
    Cochin $15
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Abu Dhabi $196
    Cochin $30
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Cochin

Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Cochin? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Abu Dhabi


Hotels in Cochin


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Abu Dhabi Hotel Prices and Cochin Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Abu Dhabi $20
    Cochin $9.90
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Abu Dhabi

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Abu Dhabi are as follows:


  • Car Rental
    $31
  • Taxi to Airport
    $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Abu Dhabi

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Abu Dhabi:

  • Abrahamic Family House Tour with Transfer: $89
  • Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Abu Dhabi Hotel or Address): $131
  • Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $39
  • Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $70
  • Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel - Arrival Private Transfer: $59
  • Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
  • Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $105
  • Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): Private Transfer to Abu Dhabi: $99
  • Abu Dhabi Airport Private Departure Transfer: $33
  • Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer To or From Anywhere within Abu Dhabi: $70
  • Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer to Hotel or Vice Versa: $65
  • Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer to or from Dubai to Abu Dhabi Airport: $140

Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Cochin?

Prices for flights to both Cochin and Abu Dhabi change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Abu Dhabi $45
    Cochin $12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.

  • Dubai: Dhow Cruise Marina Multi Cusine Dinner & Tanura Show: $35
  • Dubai Marina luxury Dhow Cruise Dinner (catamaran): $42
  • Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Live Shows Pick & Drop More: $45
  • Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari Tour with Shows and BBQ Dinner: $48
  • Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $49
  • Desert Safari, Quad Bike, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $50
  • Desert Tour with BBQ Dinner and Hotel Transfer: $51
  • Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $60
  • Desert Safari Abu Dhabi w/ Sand Boarding, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $75
  • Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari & Dinner Under the Stars: $77
  • Abu Dhabi Desert Safari 4x4, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride: $81
  • Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner & Shows: $81

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Abu Dhabi $39
    Cochin $10

Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:

  • Qasr Al Hosn: Entry Tickets with 1 GB Data eSIM: $8.12
  • Sea Breeze Boat Tour: $8.17
  • Fast-Track Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Hosn: $8.37
  • Abu Dhabi 4G & 5G Data Roaming for Tourist: $11
  • Louvre Join an Express Tour: $14
  • Qasr Al Watan Museum Abu Dhabi Ticket: $17
  • Louvre Abu Dhabi with Tourist Shuttle Bus & eSIM: $17
  • Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum General Admission Ticket: $17
  • Qasr Al Watan Admission Ticket: $18
  • Qasr Al Watan Palace & Garden Entrance Ticket: $18
  • Ticket to Louvre Museum, Abu Dhabi: $19
  • Shop & Eat in Abu Dhabi’s Markets Like a Local Walking Tour: $19

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Abu Dhabi $13
    Cochin $8.79


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Cochin, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Cochin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Cochin is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Cochin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cochin and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Abu Dhabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Abu Dhabi than you might in Cochin.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Abu Dhabi Expensive? and Is Cochin Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Cochin?

Cochin has a larger population, and is about 0% larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Cochin, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.